'Trump is a special guy, and he talks frankly'

Newsmax CEO and Trump confidant Christopher Ruddy talks with Arutz Sheva about Israel, the US, and everything in between.

Yoni Kempinski, Chana Roberts, 04/08/17 13:48

Christopher Ruddy

Yoni Kempinski

Newsmax Media CEO Christopher Ruddy, who is also a close friend of US President Donald Trump, spoke to Arutz Sheva about America, Israel, mainstream media, and the future of Trump's presidency.

"Israel is a very special place," Ruddy said. "I studied here in my undergraduate studies at the Hebrew University [in Jerusalem], I later came back here to work on my thesis when I was doing my masters in London, and I've been back at least a dozen times."

"I have a lot of friends here and a lot of good memories. and I'm here visiting policy makers, media people...and also businesses people."

Regarding the "Trump whisper," Ruddy said, "I don't whisper when I talk to Donald Trump. I've known him for a long time, we've been friends for at least ten years."

Trump, he said, "has been a very frequent person on Newsmax through the years," and Newsmax's readers have a strong affinity with him.

"He's a very special guy, I've known him for a long time, and I talk pretty frankly with him when I talk privately, and he talks frankly with me. That's the type of guy he is, and I like it," Ruddy explained.

Regarding the media portrayal of the Trump administration, Ruddy admitted that "there's been an unfair balance, an unfair portrait that has been painted of this administration."

"There have been some issues," he agreed, but emphasized that America should "always remember Donald Trump is the first man in history of the United States who was not a politician - an elected official, and he was never a general - to become president of the United States."

"I think the public is saying that this is a citizen president, he's acting like a citizen, he doesn't understand....how Washington works...as much as some people."

However, he noted, Trump is "a super-quick learner."

"He's in politics just two years and he's already president," Ruddy explained. "So he will adjust and he will figure things out and I just say, give him a little more time."

"The press just has this angry jihad against him, and it's unfair."

And what does Ruddy think about Trump's tweets?

"The president should have a tweet process, a review process of all the tweets," he said. "I think the tweets are great, I think it's brilliant he bypasses the media, reaches 30 million people. I think as president he should have that reviewed. I think you'll see that happen under General Kelly."

"I think sometime the President steps on his own message, and some of the tweets get people diverted from all the good things he's doing."

The public, however, seems to want honest news.

"Newsmax is growing, because of all the bias in the media, if you want to watch Newsmax TV - you can just download the app...and watch it for free.... I think it's part of a revolution, that the public is taking back the media, saying that 'we want balance, we want to hear the other side of the story.'

"If you go to Newsmax.com right now, you'll see positive stories about Donald Trump and you'll see critical stories of Donald Trump. There's a poll out saying that the president hit a record low of approval. I don't know if that poll is accurate or not, but we published it... The truth is his poll numbers have been going lower, they're close to where former President Barack Obama was for most of his time in office."

Ruddy believes Trump can unite America's warring political parties.

"I've urged him to reach out to the Senate, to do things that unite Democrats and Republicans, which he's really great at," Ruddy said.

"Well, I haven't talked to Jared about that, I don't know if that's really his view, [or] taken out of context. I think they're very sincere in wanting to bring stability. I'm not sure you ever bring a true peace, forever, it's never existed in mankind's history.... "

But "they're reaching out to all the Arab states, it creates a dynamic."

"I think initially they wanted to move it and they decided that...there's a lot of other issues they need to resolve. And I think they need the full support of the Israeli government behind it and I'm not so sure that that's the case."

Ending the interview, Ruddy praised Arutz Sheva.

"Arutz Sheva is a wonderful service, I've been following you guys for years and years and years," he gushed. "You're providing the news that we don't get in America about Israel."

"I will certainly tell our readers to check you guys out, and let's communicate and chat."